Explore every episode of the podcast The NSMB Podcast

Jack Menzies’ 2026 season went a little differently than planned. From winning a national champs jersey to squeezing into the Whistler World Cup at the last minute and lucking his way into an invite to ride the inaugural Red Bull Hardline, it’s been a busy year.

We talk about what the Whistler World Cup meant to Jack, the frustration of missing a World Cup final by seconds, and the differences between downhill and enduro racing. Jack gets into the pressure of qualifying, how a crash can knock your confidence, and why modern line coaching and constant filming leave little room to hide a fast line.

There’s also the suspension setup that was apparently too stiff for its own good. After getting caught up in the endless tweaking, Jack turned to a random number generator to pick his settings ahead of nationals. It worked, and he’s still running them.

We finish with the realities of racing in Europe as a privateer, what it costs to keep racing at this level, and the challenges of making it work heading into 2027.

Pete, Mike and A.J. dig into the 2027 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup schedule, including its growing European focus, Whistler’s return and the absence of Mont-Sainte-Anne and Fort William. From there, we get into the formats, technology and business decisions shaping the future of mountain biking.
We debate how Hard MTB can translate its multi-discipline racing format to a wider audience, what it would take for 32-inch wheels to catch on, and whether the hype around Avinox motors matches what riders can actually buy. We also discuss the new downhill bikes from Devinci and Norco, the latest Adidas Five Ten shoe redesigns, and what the recent moves at Cannondale and Juliana tell us about the state of the industry.

• The 2027 UCI MTB World Cup schedule, its European focus and what that means for global appeal. Whistler’s return, and the absence of Mont-Sainte-Anne and Fort William
• Hard MTB: multi-discipline racing, rider versatility and the challenge of reaching a wide audience
• 32-inch wheels: adoption, packaging, weight and terrain considerations
• Canyon’s Spectral:On with the Avinox M2S motor, and why availability matters as much as specifications
• Devinci’s new DH bike and announcement of another announcement
• Norco’s new DH bike, adjustability and the move toward premium pricing
• Adidas Five Ten shoe redesigns, branding reactions and the risks of long product-development cycles
• Cannondale’s North American office closure, layoffs and the brand’s future
• Santa Cruz bringing Juliana under its own brand, and what representation on equal terms means
• Dropbear’s press-fit pins, MSC Moto’s damped stem, a visit to the ER, and trading vehicles

Jordi Cortes is Fox Factory’s Global Race Department Manager, but his path into World Cup downhill wasn’t a straight line. From riding BMX and racing motorcycles to working with metal and solving problems hands-on, Jordi has built a career around understanding how things work and making them better.

I sat down with Jordi to talk about the experiences that led him to work with professional mountain bike athletes, how his varied background has shaped his approach, and what he’s learned along the way.

We also discuss the realities of World Cup racing, including team logistics, split venues, track changes, and the pressure to give a rider every advantage.

Away from racing, we explore how e-bikes, trail access, and changing riding habits are shaping mountain bike culture, drawing on our experiences in places like Squamish and Santa Cruz.

The inaugural Red Bull Hardline B.C. brought some of the world’s best downhill riders to Cypress Mountain for a race that left little room for error. From changing North Shore conditions and brutally technical sections to flats that cost riders their runs, the track kept fighting back. We sit down immediately after finals to break down the racing, Asa Vermette’s winning run, and the moments that shaped the day.

Beyond the results, we get into what it’s like to see this track up close, how the trail crew kept it running, and the challenges of putting on a race of this scale. We also look at the spectator experience and what could make the event even better next time.

The women’s riding was another standout, with Gracey Hemstreet, Lina Frener, and Tayte Proulx-Royds pushing their limits and working through the course’s biggest features. It’s a glimpse of where things are heading, and a reminder that progression doesn’t happen in isolation.

Our immediate reactions and insights from the first Red Bull Hardline B.C., straight from Cypress Mountain.

With the 2026 World Cup downhill season wrapped up, A.J., Mike Ferrentino, and Pete look back on the final two rounds in Whistler and Lake Placid, sharing their experiences and discussing some of the stories that stood out.

We get into how the racing has changed with limited practice and the end of protected-rider status, and what that means for riders trying to find their pace under pressure. A.J. shares his perspective from behind the camera at both events, from the spectator atmosphere in Whistler to the more spread-out viewing at Lake Placid, along with the realities of shooting a World Cup as a photographer.

Mike also talks about getting inside Canyon Factory Racing at Whistler, including the team’s preparation, mechanics, wheel and tire choices, and the logistics that go into getting a World Cup team to the start line. We finish by looking ahead to Hardline and reflecting on where these late-season events fit into the wider racing calendar.

It’s a look back at the final two World Cups from the perspective of those on the ground working behind the scenes.

Whistler just hosted its first-ever UCI Downhill Mountain Bike World Cup, and a few hours after the final runs, Pete Roggeman, Mike Ferrentino, Uncle Dave, and Deniz Merdano sat down to unpack the weekend.

We talk about how the new track actually rode, the roots and line choices that punished small mistakes, the huge gaps in the results, and the pressure of racing a World Cup on home soil. We also get into Asa Vermette’s win, Vali Holl’s continued run of form, some spectacular crashes, the junior racing, and the people and machinery behind a modern World Cup team.

Recorded immediately after finals, this is the NSMB crew’s first take on Whistler’s first World Cup downhill.

Your kid wins a World Championship, and the whole world sees the highlights. What they don’t see is what happens behind the scenes: the nerves, the travel, the quiet moments between the races, and the reality of watching your child take risks at the highest level of the sport.

For this episode of the NSMB Podcast, I’m joined by Ron Goldstone, father of two-time Elite Men’s Downhill World Champion Jackson Goldstone, just days before Jackson races the first-ever World Cup Downhill race where he grew up riding.

Ron takes us back to Jackson’s early years on a bike, from BMX racing and learning to race gates to thousands of laps at Whistler, Squamish, and beyond. We talk about the value of simply spending time on a bike, riding different disciplines, and developing the confidence to make split-second decisions when the consequences are high.

But this conversation goes beyond racing. Ron talks openly about watching Jackson grow from a kid riding bikes in Squamish into a two-time World Champion, what it’s like seeing your son on billboards, and how life changes when what started as a passion becomes the centre of your family’s calendar.

We also get into some of the harder parts of that journey, including a devastating house fire that destroyed much of the family home and irreplaceable memorabilia, what comes with being one of the sport’s most recognizable riders, and the challenge of balancing Jackson’s growing profile with the things that made riding bikes special in the first place.

With the World Cup finally coming to Whistler, Ron offers a unique perspective on what it means to watch your kid take on the sport’s biggest stages, and to realize that the life you’re living now looks very different from the one you imagined 25 years ago.

A World Cup downhill track looks like pure speed on race day, but the real story is the years of scouting, digging, carrying rock, and second-guessing every corner so the world’s fastest riders can push the pace and the sport forward. I connected with Marty Gautry, Whistler Blackcomb’s bike park trail crew manager, to unpack how Whistler’s trails evolved from early, make-it-work machine builds into the modern “science” of jump shaping, landings, and high-traffic maintenance. Along the way, we get into what riders rarely see: how often A-Line gets rebuilt, why irrigation both helps and hurts, and what it takes to keep iconic lines running from spring through late fall. 

Then we go deep on Creekside and the long build toward the 1199 World Cup downhill track. Marty explains why the line was so hard to “connect,” how the rock garden demanded thousands of hours of armouring, and shares that access roads for patrol and emergency response can cost as much as the trail itself. We also talk about the pressure of building for the speed of elite racers, where top riders may take sections with no brakes, forcing late changes to corners, landings, and compressions to keep things fast but safe. 

We close with the big questions: should the 1199 World Cup track be open to the public, how do you manage that without destroying it, and what does it mean to showcase a race line that cuts through one of the most beautiful forests in British Columbia? 

If you care about trail building, downhill mountain bike racing, Whistler Bike Park history, or the behind-the-scenes work that makes progression possible, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share this with a mate, and leave a review along with your thoughts on whether anyone else should get to ride it.

A World Cup downhill doesn’t land in your backyard by accident. Wendy Robinson of Whistler Blackcomb joins us to share how Whistler’s first UCI Mountain Bike World Cup came together, from the earliest rumours to the decisions that made it real.

We talk through how the 1199 Stevie Smith Tribute Track came together over the years: scouting an alignment in the Creekside zone, inviting elite athletes for track walks, and adjusting features, transitions, and line options based on pro rider feedback. Wendy also explains why this isn’t only about one marquee race weekend. A true World Cup-level downhill track becomes a training ground that helps Canadian riders and juniors build skills on terrain that matches the pace, pressure, and technical demands of modern downhill mountain biking.

Then we get into the less-visible work that makes the show run: safety systems like World Cup-grade alpine netting and deflection fencing, start-ramp adjustments, paddock and expo planning, and how Whistler approaches crowd energy without risking the kind of finish-line chaos we’ve seen elsewhere. We also share spectator tips, including why qualifying day can be the best time to support local talent before finals and to see intense racing as the entry list is cut back for Sunday.

If you care about Whistler, racing, or what it takes to host a global mountain bike event, hit play. Subscribe, share this with your friends, and leave a review with your prediction: who thrives on 1199?

What if the trail that scares you most is the one that finally sets you free? We sit down with illustrator and writer Cy Whitling to chart a life that moved from a Christian nationalist upbringing in northern Idaho to the loamy corners of Bellingham, where bikes, art, and community remapped everything. Cy shares how a humble hardtail, a generous shop mentor, and a dog-eared Kona catalog cracked open a worldview built on fear. College layered in skiing, search and rescue, and daily contact with people whose empathy outshone dogma, leading to the hard choice to cut ties and build a chosen family.

From there, the conversation digs into identity and inclusion. Cy explains why he came out as bi while releasing a Pride poster, the backlash that followed, and the deeper connections that made it worth it. We explore queerness in mountain biking—how pronouns and representation signal safety, why bisexuality is often misunderstood, and where the industry quietly leads with real people doing real work. His art choices are purpose-built: animal characters to widen identification, a notes-app pipeline to capture trailhead truths, and weekly comics that make riders feel seen. We talk creative process, deadlines, and how to balance integrity with sustainability without turning art into merch purgatory.

Finally, we ride west. A solo road trip to Seattle and Bellingham becomes a revelation: steep loam, rock rolls, and a birthday party reached by bike, not car. Cy’s skills jump by necessity, pulled forward by friends who ride the impossible and a community that makes fast feel safe. He contrasts mountain biking’s professionalism with skiing’s precarity, reflects on avalanche fatalities that changed his risk tolerance, and shares why he’s still hungry to make work that gives more than it takes. Hit play for a story about leaving control, choosing compassion, and finding home on two wheels.

If this conversation moves you, follow, share with a friend, and leave a review to help others find it.

Precision isn't just a goal for Abbey Tools founder Jason Quaid—it's a religion. From humble beginnings as a welder crafting nuclear-grade pressure vessels to becoming the creator of the cycling world's most coveted tools, Jason's journey exemplifies how passion and craftsmanship can transform an industry.

The story begins with a simple phone call and a modified lockring tool that would become known as the "Crombie Tool." What started as a favor for a fellow race mechanic quickly evolved into a business when Jason brought his first batch of 100 tools to the Cascade Cycling Classic in Bend, Oregon. Every mechanic with cash in their pocket bought one, and those who didn't returned the next day. That immediate validation launched Abbey Tools into existence.

Unlike most manufacturing operations today, Abbey maintains control over nearly every aspect of production at their facility in Bend. The five-person operation machines, weld, and assemble each tool with meticulous attention to detail. "We spend almost as much time inspecting the parts that go into the HAG (Hanger Alignment Gauge) as we do making them," Jason explains. This commitment to quality is evident in products like their titanium hammer—a tool that Jason initially thought was "one of the dumbest things anybody had ever asked me to make," but later realized had elegance and utility.

What makes Abbey's approach unique is their unwavering focus on function while still creating tools beautiful enough to be considered functional art. Though initially designed with professional race mechanics in mind, their tools have found an enthusiastic audience among home mechanics who appreciate quality equipment. From bottom bracket sockets to their renowned truing stand, each piece reflects Jason's philosophy that if you're going to invest in the precise engineering and execution, why not make the finished product visually stunning too?

Whether you're a professional wrench or a weekend warrior who takes pride in maintaining your own bikes, Abbey Tools represents the pinnacle of quality in an industry where precision increasingly matters. As drivetrains evolve from 8 speeds to 13 in the same hub space, the margin for error shrinks—making tools that deliver exacting results more valuable than ever.

Want to see craftsmanship elevated to an art form? Explore what happens when a skilled tradesman brings his expertise to the cycling world and refuses to compromise on quality.

When Dustin Adams founded We Are One Composites in 2017, the mountain biking industry experts said it couldn't be done. Manufacturing carbon fiber rims in Canada? Economically impossible. Yet Adams, a former World Cup downhill racer with podium finishes and Canadian Championship titles to his name, wasn't deterred by conventional wisdom.

Selling everything he owned—including his comfortable Squamish home—Adams moved his family to Kamloops, bought a "rat-infested" house that needed work, and started We Are One with just five people and enough cash to last eight months. The pressure was immense, but the team delivered, pioneering revolutionary manufacturing techniques that allowed them to produce carbon rims with "Class A out of the mold" finishes that eliminated costly post-production work.

This behind-the-scenes conversation reveals the stunning reality of building a manufacturing business with minimal investment in an industry dominated by Asian production. Adams speaks candidly about his extraordinary journey from making those first carbon rims to fulfilling his boyhood dream of creating the Arrival—a fully Canadian-made carbon fiber mountain bike that received universal praise for its ride quality and construction.

The discussion takes unexpected turns as Adams explains why production of the Arrival was paused despite representing 50% of company revenue, and how We Are One's unique manufacturing approach has positioned them perfectly to navigate recent tariff challenges that are devastating competitors. His insights into the current state of mountain biking—including the rapid shift toward electric mountain bikes and what that means for traditional bike manufacturers—provide a fascinating glimpse into industry trends.

Perhaps most moving is Adams' commitment to giving back to the sport that shaped his life. Now coaching young downhill racers through the Kamloops DH Union, he's helping develop the next generation of Canadian talent. As for We Are One's future? Expansion into new product categories, continued manufacturing innovation, and perhaps—when the time is right—a return to frame production are all on the horizon.

Deniz Merdano sits down with North Shore freerider Steve Vanderhoek to discuss his day-to-day life as a firefighter and how it influences his decisions when pioneering some of the most progressive lines on the North Shore, as well as an exciting new project that Steve is working on, set to release in the spring of 2025.

If you don’t know the name Caleb Holonko, you should, and you likely will soon. Caleb is one of the rising stars in the world of freeride, and he’s taken the North Shore by storm, building some incredible moves that are not only massive in scale but also clever, creative and beautiful to look at. And he rides them with heaps of style and incredible precision. Caleb’s also made a habit of putting new twists on moves others built, with the other builder’s permission. Caleb hit the train gap made famous by Kenny Smith, but he built up the lip and backflipped the enormous gap over the tracks. Similarly, Kenny built a huge step down to a suspended platform—the Rutherford Lily-pad—and Caleb gapped right over the lily-pad. 

It’s not all about big moves for Caleb, though; he also spends countless hours building trails that all of us can ride. He also won the builders award at Red Bull Rampage in 2023, working for Reed Boggs alongside Alan Mandel.

Unless you’ve met him at a race or listened to him on another podcast, you may not have heard of Mark Fitzsimmons, or Fitzy as he’s known to friends. 

He’s one of the unsung heroes of the mountain bike world. Fitzy is famous to a certain sort of person though: World Cup racers. He’s helped riders like Greg Minnaar, Aaron Gwin and Steve Peat go even faster, working for Fox Racing supporting the Santa Cruz syndicate and other race teams.

More recently Mark took up motor cycle racing - virtually every kind of motor cycle racing - and he wins on both dirt and pavement. He’s a knee dragging badass and a wicked mountain biker as well. 

Please have a listen to my conversation with Mark Fitzsimmons where we talk about working with pro athletes, racing motorcycles, and having mountain lions as neighbours.

Cam McRae

For our first Podcast with Mike Ferrentino, he was home on the acreage where he lives, inland from the coast up the Carmel Valley. Mike lives in a barn filled with bikes and motorcycles, the latter in various stages of decomposition. He's a decent distance from civilization, and from the internet. Mike's connectivity relies on tethering to his phone's sketchy data signal so while we were talking the first time I would lose his picture, and sometimes his voice, for long stretches. There was also a delay I was unaware of, that caused me to walk over Mike's words quite regularly. This time around Mike had a better solution. He jumped into his Ford Transit,(which he got in trade for the Sprinter he mentions in the podcast) found a spot that was quiet and set up his mic. I lost him a couple of times, and once we got disconnected completely, but overall it was like going from hieroglyphics to Morse Code.

We dug a little deeper into Mike's time at bike magazine, particularly the glory days before corporate takeovers, talked about his six years working for Santa Cruz Bikes at the old cannery location, and even discussed mountain biking's newest marketing designation; Downcountry! We also talked about "shaping the destiny of mountain biking," about spectating, working for 'the man,' and being "strapped into a rocket car without a steering wheel."

And this made me realize all the things we didn't cover. But those will have to wait until next time.

Please enjoy our second podcast with the incomparable Mike Ferrentino.

Here’s part one of my conversation with Mike, where he talks about growing up barefoot in New Zealand, learning to fix motorcycles and bikes, moving to America, racing bikes and motos, working in shops, beginning to write about mountain biking, and getting his start at Bike Magazine.

Our guest for the latest NSMB Podcast and the first of our Coming of Age series is Kasper Woolley, a young and fast EWS athlete now racing for the Yeti/OneUp Pro EWS team who hails from Squamish, B.C. 

Kasper first caught the eye of brands as a young junior, after his stage results at a local race were faster than the pro men. Since then, Kasper has grown stronger on the bike and in 2020 made heaps of noise showcasing his speed and cornering skills in a series of short videos. His talent and hard work paid off during the 2020 Crankworx Summer Series, where he was a regular on the podium and the top Canadian EWS athlete at the events, whether enduro or downhill. Kasper went on to close the race season with a win at the Big Mountain Enduro in Winter Park, beating Richie Rude in the process. 

Now part of the Yeti/OneUp EWS team with Jared Graves, Kasper’s pitting at the racers with the Yeti Factory team and getting comfortable with the benefits of race day support. Being young, one might expect Kasper to be all over social media, but he prefers to provide value to his partners through racing, which takes priority over banger video clips. A refreshing perspective, particularly coming from a young athlete. 

Our guest for the latest NSMB Podcast is Ben Arnott, a World Cup downhill mechanic, engineer, and small business owner.   

Ben spent several years working as the head mechanic for Trek World Racing and the YT Mob and the stories from his time following the circus provide a fascinating look into the World Cup. For six of his years with the teams, Ben was also responsible for the team truck. He got to know it intimately while driving the large rig on the small, European mountain roads to each venue.   

But Ben recently pulled back from wrenching for World Cup athletes like Greg Williamson, Angel Suarez, and David Trummer. Instead, he's remained in Canada for the first summer since immigrating and is focused on sharpening his engineering skills with OneUp Components. 

He hasn't completely left the wrenching world either and keeps his hands busy servicing products from Formula and EXT, which he imports through his distribution business, Alba. And while no longer wrenching on the World Cup, he's not saying it will never happen again. 

Chris Porter joins A.J. Barlas for another episode of the NSMB Podcast and once again, it's a brain-tickler. Our first conversation shared stories of Chris's background, giving a better understanding of the man behind the ideas having a resounding impact on the sport. With Chris’s blessing, part two has been labelled Big Mouth Strikes Again. He sees things through a different coloured lens and isn’t afraid to share his opinions. Not everyone will agree with his thoughts, but his musings can spark ideas and leave you contemplating things not previously considered. I always come away from our conversations with an appreciation for new perspectives and I hope listeners can, too. 

Mountain bikes have evolved tremendously in the last five years but before then, media and marketing had already nudged the term longer, lower, slacker beyond the edge of being a cliché. The alarmingly incremental progress made to bike shapes is at least partly to blame for the term being worn thin.

During this time one person, in particular, established a name for themselves, and a company to serve riders interested in leaping ahead. Chris Porter is better known today for what was a unique approach to bike shape, one that’s slowly becoming more mainstream with each model year. And whether or not you find yourself agreeing with his thoughts, they at least tickle the mind. 

But who is Chris Porter? Where is he from? What led him down the path to the current day, one where some have labelled him the godfather of modern mountain bike geometry. For years, his thought-provoking ideas on mountain bikes have challenged what people believe to be right, and I wanted to know more about where those ideas stem from? 

Chris is immensely passionate about riding on two wheels, whether a motorcycle or mountain bike, which is clear when listening to him share some of his experiences – genuine emotion can be heard in his voice. That love, coupled with a desire to improve the experience is a large part of what drives him. 

While this episode, the first of two planned with Chris was primarily to discuss his background, there is some discussion on the technical aspects of mountain bikes in the latter half. We'll be connecting again shortly to dive deeper into some of these topics and poke the industry bear a little too.

But none of those lessons could prepare her for the latest challenge faced at the end of 2020. After a messed-up year, thanks mostly to the world turning on its head, Katy found herself without support to continue her career as a professional E.W.S. athlete. The lessons learned during her prior low were no match for the uncertainty and lack of direction she faced this off-season. Not knowing what lays ahead makes it hard to motivate or set goals for the coming year. 

Scrambling, Katy had countless conversations with teams and brands but ultimately kept receiving dreaded rejections. Not everything was lost though, and Katy found support from a large brand that believed in her. That belief provided her with the assurance needed to soldier on and sparked a renewed focus for the sort of brands she wants to align with. 

Katy’s saga, as it’s being referred to, is as muddy as it gets. Timing, status, the global pandemic, and gender each affected the situation. But she's made it through with a renewed energy to get after it and a fire that burns hot.

What actions will inspire someone to make a better life for themselves? Those of our childhood heroes, our friends and parents, or a complete stranger can have a lasting impact but how about a video game? 

Growing up, Kyle Warner dealt with many daily challenges. As a teenager, he was looking after his clinically depressed mother, they lost their home, and his older brother had a drug addiction. But the video game, Downhill Domination, and Eric Carter’s character in that game sparked something in Kyle. 

Kyle fell in love with the sport. Once he got a bike, riding became a positive outlet, bringing joy and an escape from the trouble at home. He declared, mountain bikes were going to be his life and set goals to become a professional racer. Now he's shifted his focus from racing to helping others get into the sport. His YouTube channel has grown rapidly and an active community of followers share stories of saved marriages and a new direction in life, just like Kyle discovered when he found bikes.  

Kyle's story is one that I’m excited to share. It’s humbling, emotional and left me speechless several times. He’s a great human, genuine, soft-spoken and motivated to help people by spreading the positive impact that bikes can have. 

Welcome to the latest episode of the NSMB Podcast and our conversation with Kyle Warner. 

For every rider frothing about their new bike with a steeper seat tube angle, there are plenty who feel things are going too far. Claims of poor power and efficiency accompany complaints of sore hands, knees and backside but what if the seat angle alone isn’t the cause? 

With many happy to see steeper seat tube angles on modern mountain bikes, the complaints from those unimpressed by the changes got A.J. Barlas thinking; Is the steeper seat tube angle going too far for the majority, and how does it affect our biomechanics on the bike?

After a year of on and off research on the topic, A.J. reached out to a performance coach with education in exercise physiology. Joel Harwood is the founder of Blueprint Athlete Development and works with a range of World Cup and EWS calibre athletes. Joel simplified the science while also raising points that all riders, whether comfortable with steep seat angles or not, could consider when on their bike. 

For flat pedal riders after the most grip possible, FiveTen has really been the only option. Year after year, new shoe releases have left us to question, why is it so hard for others to achieve similar grip?  

With the release of their new 2FO DH shoes and now the Rime, A.J. Barlas wanted to know more about Specialized’s shoe development process. Did they want all the grip, and if so, why did it take so long? How did they test the sole for grip? And what about their choice of materials? 

Specialized Footwear Product Manager, Stephen Quay was happy to dive into the new shoes, answering A.J's questions and more. They discussed the development process behind SlipNot ST, the materials used in the uppers, and Specialized’s Body Geometry. It turns out heaps goes into making shoes and the type of rubber needed for grip is tricky to develop.  

For many of us, riding bikes begins as a childhood activity, belting around the local neighbourhood, learning to wheelie and launching off gutters. But in some parts of the world, it goes beyond an after school activity. Neighbourhoods riddled with kids outdoing each other on the bike can build into pushing for national titles. These hotbeds of talented young riders develop more as the years go by, leaving a legacy behind.

It turns out Yoann Barelli grew up in such a hotbed in the south of France. He started riding with his 'brother' and future world champion, Fabien Barel but the town is also home to legendary downhill racer, Nico Vouilloz. There’s much racing history in the streets there but for Yoann, a slightly different path was taken.

Most listeners will know Yoann for his exuberant personality and, as it turns out, it played a large role in securing his first professional contract. But as he’s matured, his outlook on life and racing has too. Yoann shared how he got started in the sport, how the more recent events in his life and the world have shaped his career, and his thoughts on the environment.

Topics discussed:

1. Starting riding and racing in the South of France
2. Taking time to travel and learn English
3. How to be a Pro Rider video and how it actually worked
4. The Enduro World Series giving riders a chance at a career that wasn't there before
5. French lines and how the EWS has evolved
6. Cutting back the amount of racing
7. Starting the Into the Gnar coaching business
8. Racing for the thrill
9. Finding ways to progress as a pro-level rider
10. Injuries and their impact on racing
11. Cleaning up the environment
12. Becoming carbon neutral

Links mentioned in this episode:

• How to be a Pro Rider by Yoann Barelli
• Barelli Concepts / Into The Gnar
• Sam Hill in Chile
• Rideguard – mudguards made from recycled plastic
• Yoann’s Instagram

The NSMB Podcast: Obsessed with Mountain Biking is available on all of your favourite podcast apps:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Stitcher
• Overcast
• Google Podcasts

Bryson Martin has been involved in the industry for longer than most of you would imagine. From racing in the 80s to starting his own suspension manufacturing company, DVO, he’s seen the evolution of our sport from its early beginnings. We're excited to present the first NSMB Podcast ever recorded, we just had a little delay in publishing it. AJ and Bryson dive in and talk about elevated chainstays, drilling out suspension parts in the garage, how the Bomber name came about and, of course, the birth of DVO. Bryson also shares some snippets for exciting products that will be coming in the future.

HIGHLIGHTS

Wearing Suits & the merge into bikes for a living
Bryson: Before I got my master's degree I got a normal job, where I had to wear a suit…
AJ: No way…
Bryson: it was awful!

Starting with Marzocchi
Bryson: I ran into a guy from Marzocchi who was straight from Italy—you could tell he was Italian, you know, wearing one of those suits and walking around a bike show. I was like; “Hey, I raced Marzocchi on my motorcycles for years.” and stuff. I said: “What are you doing here?” He said, “oh, we’re thinking about entering the mountain bike market.” I’m like: “I’m your guy! I can handle it.” Laughing.

So… yeah we stayed in contact and six months later I flew to Italy and I said; “Hey I’ve got an idea. I’m going to make a mountain bike fork. I can handle the US structure, I want to be part owner and I’ll build it.” I was talking to Adriano Marzocchi, one of the cousins, and I said: “How big is your motorcycle division?” And he said you know, ‘X’ amount of millions of lira. Then I go “alright, in ten years I’ll make it bigger than motorcycle.” He laughed and goes; “You’re so stupid, haha, you Americans. I like your…” something in Italian which equates to your arrogance, you know. Then he goes; “Let’s do business.” And that’s how it started…

On Starting DVO Suspension
Bryson: We always looked at, in the past, air spring technology. We felt like, we wanted to use different air spring technologies… There are certain performance advantages to doing an air spring differently. Through the economics of manufacturing back then (at Marzocchi) we weren’t able to even investigate it. But we know that it represented a problem. That’s why we have the OTT System (with DVO)… I remember it clear as day, like the first day we sat down, we’re like, alright, let’s design a new air spring. These are the problems that we’ve seen in the past, how are we going to address them, manufacturer it, make it as light as possible, easy to adjust, you know, etc.

Something New?
AJ: Inverted single crown forks…

Bryson: I'm, that's, those are awesome. I love ‘em. I’m working on one, I’ll be honest with you… I’m working on one and… It’s a little bit… Well honestly, I was the first to come out with an inverted fork. At Marzocchi, I did the RAC fork. That’s called Reversed Advanced Composite. So I developed that. It was an inverted, carbon upper structure. I did it with Easton in Mexico. We just, we didn’t… It was way before its time. We didn’t have the manufacturing capabilities that we have now. 
I’m working on one. The thing is, it needs to be light. Inverted you can’t hit these weight targets that a lot of people… So for me, its kind of a side project, in a sense, but… Inverted is awesome. It’s the only way to go.

Over the last 20 years, we’ve watched Geoff Gulevich evolve and grow from a fresh-faced 13-year-old grom into one of the most recognized freeriders in our sport. His career started about the same time that riding on the North Shore achieved worldwide renown and the two have grown together. From cedar skinnies up in the sky to the today's modern, flowy style, he has been there, first as a young local ripper with parts in Digger’s North Shore Extreme video series, moving on to global recognition with a big online following, working with companies like GoPro and lululemon in addition to his bike industry sponsors.

Throughout that time, Gully has been a mainstay in videos as well as freeride and slopestyle competitions, earning accolades and results but also the respect and admiration of fellow riders, fans, and the industry as a whole. His easygoing nature and friendly demeanour comes as naturally as greasing a massive booter, and that may be what people like most about him, but there is no shortage of reasons to be a fan. No boasting or ego here - just a grown-up kid who likes to have fun on his bike, who has matured along with the sport that he loves, and has brought us along for the ride.

I’m Pete Roggeman and this is episode 5 of the NSMB podcast, and for this one, Cam McRae and I sat down together with Geoff Gulevich - known to many of us as ‘Gully’ - to dive a little deeper.

Topics discussed:

1. Gully's first bike and how the wheel got taco'ed on the first day.
2. First-ever ride with a pro with Jay Hoots and knowing MTB was the career he wanted from the time he started.
3. Getting his parents to forge his application to McDonald's so he could earn money for bike parts - at age 12!
4. Competing at Rampage and slopestyle events like Joyride. 
5. Guinea-pigging the Oakley sender and his biggest crash ever.
6. Traveling the world as a competitor and then as an adventurer.
7. Geoff collects pocket knives from places he travels to and commissioned Ethan Nell's dad to make custom knives for his groomsmen.
8. The experience of his Fox News interview after Rampage in 2014.
9. Social media, dealing with haters, a few tips for getting better GoPro footage.
10. How GoPro has influenced his career.
11. What advice would he give to Gully in the past?
12. What does the future hold for Geoff Gulevich?

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Follow Gully on Instagram
• Gully's viral helmet cam vid from Rampage and ensuing Fox News Interview

The NSMB Podcast: Obsessed with Mountain Biking is available on all of your favourite podcast apps:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Stitcher
• Overcast
• Google Podcasts

On a short trip to New Zealand in 2019, I thought there might be a chance to record a podcast with Sven and Anka Martin. When I arrived in Nelson, I learned that my two podcast targets had planned and were running the Santa Cruz media event that had brought me to their adopted homeland.

Sven is a former pro skateboarder and World Cup downhiller who has become one of the most well known and respected photographers on the DH and enduro circuits. Anka, who’s married to Sven, is a badass rider who raced World Cup DH until two thousand and nine and eventually began pursuing a career racing enduro. She has won both Trans Provence and Andes Pacifico and was a regular in the top 10 at the EWS - before stepping back from competitive riding at the end of 2016. Neither Sven nor Anka had ever ridden a mountain bike when they first met. Incredibly together they clawed their way up until they were both racing at the highest level.

Sven and Anka, South Africans by birth who also host the popular NZ Enduro every year, had to scuttle their original plan for myself and the other visiting journalists. Things were too hot in the trails near Nelson and the risk of fire was too high. They took this in stride and hastily organized a two-day excursion that involved riding sweet singletrack to a lodge that can’t be reached by road, leaving there by boat and then jumping in helicopters for an alpine drop to sample some of the finest loamy singletrack I’ve ridden. They pulled a wicked advenutre out of the hat and never seemed to break a sweat.

On top of this - Sven was shooting photos of all the journalists and athletes - and Anka was making sure everyone was having a great time and quietly sorting all the details - all this the week before their annual NZ Enduro.

In the midst of this chaos I asked if they could spare an hour to sit down for a podcast and they were gracious enough to accept.

The first thing you notice about Sven and Anka is that they are always smiling and laughing and enjoying life - even when things seem to be going sideways. Sven is always making wise cracks and Anka’s good mood seems impenetrable. We talked about their nomadic lives, how they came to settle in New Zealand, racing and photographing bikes and Sven’s unbelievable opening line when they first met.

This episode isn’t heavy on downhill or EWS for you race nerds, but I think it captures something authentic about my guests and the incredible lives they have created within the world of mountain biking.

Sven Martin on Instagram
Anka Martin on Instagram
Gary Perkin on Instagram

In the second episode of the NSMB Podcast, A.J. Barlas chats with Nico Vink about his childhood and how growing up in Belgium influenced his riding today. Nico opens up about the struggles he's faced as a result of pursuing his passion – chancing it on more than one occasion to get to an event with only enough money to fuel his car to get there. How perception plays a role in being comfortable on massive 90-foot jumps and let's not forget the missing tooth. You'll have to wait until the end to learn that story because A.J. almost forgot himself.

Topics discussed:

1. Growing up in Belgium and racing Cross Country
2. Nico's transition into, and out of World Cup DH
3. Freeride and the FEST Series
4. Riders to look out for and who he's inspired by
5. Loosefest; how the event and Fest Series events are run and what it takes to put it on
6. Rampage: Judging the event and his insane line the last time he competed in the event
7. Nico's involvement with Chatel Bike Park
8. Parts he runs and how his bike setup changes from regular riding to FEST events
9. That missing tooth and why it took so long to replace

Links mentioned in this episode:

• FEST Series
• Chatel Bike Park
• Red Bull Rampage

This week, in the first ever episode of the NSMB Podcast, Cam McRae talks to Sterling Lorence about how he got his start as a rider and photographer and how he went from being a mountain biker with a desire to document the trails and riders on the North Shore into one of the most respected photographers in mountain biking. 

Topics discussed:

1. Sterling's beginnings as a photographer and mountain biker.
2. Transitioning from shooting with friends, to editorial work, to commercial work.
3. Working around the world with pro mountain bikers like Thomas Vanderham.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• http://sterlinglorence.com
• http://nsmb.com